and in this, the weight of a senate session that started for republicans with a powerpoint presentation pronouncing, and i quote, the purpose of the majority is to pass their agenda. the purpose of the minority is to become the majority. now obviously it's no secret, i'm a convinced democrat, and i know it's better to be in the majority than in the minority. i've been in both in the 25 years. and i don't want anyone to come to the senate and check their beliefs at the door and go washington. it's not what i'm asking. and the founding fathers didn't want anyone to do that either. and certainly no one is elected to the senate promising to join an exclusive club. or forget where they came from. but the truth is some of the most fiercely indie pendant, plain talking, direct and determined partisans that i've ever known in the senate have also been a very want to tackle the toughest issue. finding common ground with people they disagreed on with just about damn near everything else they thought about. daniel patrick moynihan was a new york liberal. alan simpson was a wyoming conservative. bu